No licenses for illegal immigrants
Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, who oversees the motor vehicle department, said in Lansing that effective today the state would no longer allow illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses.
The new policy also bars people who are legal but not permanent U.S. residents from getting licenses. An exemption to allow those on temporary work or student visas to get licenses is pending in the Legislature.
The change is aimed at complying with an opinion issued last month by Atty. Gen. Mike Cox, who said granting licenses to illegal immigrants was inconsistent with federal law.
Opinions by the attorney general’s office are legally binding on state agencies and officers unless reversed by the courts.
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